The Music Therapist in this position provides comprehensive and complex therapeutic care through various music therapy and creative arts programs that address physical limitations, communicative disorders, cognitive deficits, social, emotional and/or behavior reactions for adult veterans of all ages. Incumbent adheres to established policies, standards of care and standards of practice.

Duties

Music Therapist provides music therapy treatment interventions incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment services. Works under direct supervision by the Recreation Therapy Section Supervisor, to perform work in a clinical environment. Knowledge of their respective discipline and works under guidance from the supervisor to establish treatment procedures that are adapted and applied for patients diagnoses. Understanding of music therapy processes and procedures to provide patient care. Exercise judgment, administer and interpret music therapy assessments, and use clinical knowledge to develop assessment and interview approaches. Plan and organize music therapy interventions for persons diagnosed with chronic or life-threatening conditions, as well as their families and in collaboration with an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary team. Duties may include, the use of music listening, singing, playing, creating, and improvising for therapeutic or palliative treatment. Recommend new treatment groups and programs (including co-treatment opportunities) for treating patients with medical or mental health issues. The Music Therapist will be working with patients of all types of diagnoses and ages of Veterans. Provides care and rehabilitation to Veterans with a variety of disabilities, such as amputation, paralysis, neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, behavioral health, psychiatric Rocky Mountain Network diagnoses, dementia, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injuries, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, legal blindness, and other diagnoses. Encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities. Skills in program development, administrative aspects, knowledge and ability in music therapy treatment services. Responsible for developing, organizing, and administering creative arts therapy programs to provide therapeutic interventions to patients, under general supervision, in a variety of programs. Works closely with community partners to promote Veterans continual participation in positive music activities after discharge. Clinical: Administers music therapy assessments and develops relevant music therapy interventions informed by evaluation data, current research and best practices. Collaborate in co-treatment of complex clinical cases and demonstrate an ability to design, develop, or adapt unique music therapy methods as needed. Completes clinical documentation of patient care including assessments, progress notes, encounters, consultations, care plans, and other reports. Serves as Music Therapy subject matter expert and representative on interdisciplinary teams and provides education to staff, students, patients, families and caregivers about the benefits of music therapy and treatment interventions and goals. Develop therapeutic relationships with professional boundaries and establish a safe environment for the patient to understand the symbolic expression of their musical product, process and experience. Knowledge of the roles and meaning of music in various cultures and works effectively with diverse populations developing music therapy programs and interventions. Understanding of music therapy and its effects on human growth and development, musical development, diagnostic classifications, and symptomatology when developing music therapy interventions. Ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries that reflect a trusting, empathetic, and respectful interaction with all patients. Music Therapist will primarily be providing patients with skills they can continue independently or with community partners. Promote and work with Veterans who are interested in competing in the Local Veterans Creative Arts Festival and assist Veterans with completing paperwork for National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. Responsibilities include scheduling area to have local show, recruiting volunteers, hanging artwork, purchasing supplies for arts festival, and working with the national CAF committee to input paperwork, art submissions for the national festival. Administration: Adheres to Medical Center policies and procedures. Utilizes Automated Data Processing (ADP) system in accordance with established procedures. Adheres to Medical Center ADP Security policy. Develops and implement quality improvement systems as related to internal and external regulatory requirements, including patient safety. Collaborates and maintains effective communication with all patients, caregivers, interdisciplinary teams, medical center staff and community partners Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm, Possible Weekends. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: The following education requirements apply to the recreation therapist, creative arts therapist (music). (a) A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, in music therapy, or in music with an emphasis in music therapy. The degree must be approved by the National Association for Schools of Music and/or the American Music Therapy Association. OR, (b) A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, and must be a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived. OR, (c)Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. The private organization must deem such education at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Certification: Creative Arts Therapy (Music). Applicants must be a MT-BC approved by the CBMT. If hired under paragraph 3b(5)(b), certification cannot be waived. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a recreation or creative arts therapist, on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education, and registration and/or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level, or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees who were appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective date of the qualification standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/registration/certification, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) Recreation and creative arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements, in effect at the time of reentry, as a recreation or creative arts therapist. References: VA Handbook 5005/111 June 7, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G60 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 7 to GS 11. Physical Requirements: The work involves regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged walking or standing, twisting, bending, and moderately heavy lifting or moving of equipment/music supplies on a daily basis, at times may need to assist with positioning a Veteran. The work requires specific, common physical characteristics and abilities, such as above average agility and dexterity, as well as skill and ability in one or more art forms. Majority of the work will be inside in a temperature controlled environment. Most of the space that is utilized is shared and are expected to adapt to the situation.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: Aaron Lavoie
• Phone: 207-450-2817
• Email: [email protected]